8it to debut one-day First Taste festival in Williamsburg

8it will launch First Taste on Sept. 19 at LilliStar in Brooklyn, mixing exclusive food collabs, new Hennessy cocktails, unreleased music and a limited fashion drop. The event is designed to turn the app’s “what’s next” food discovery model into an in-person festival with limited-edition access tied to tasting, collecting and buying on site.

Why it matters: - First Taste turns 8it’s food-discovery app into a live event built around exclusive, one-day-only drops. - The festival bundles food, drinks, music and fashion into a single release format, giving New York creators a new way to debut work and draw fans in person. - The event also tests demand for limited, collectible experiences, from stamped passports to on-site customization.

What happened: - 8it will debut First Taste on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, at LilliStar, the rooftop of Moxy Williamsburg in Brooklyn. - The one-day festival is built around one rule: everything guests taste, hear and wear is being released for the first time. - Three chef collaborations will debut dishes created exclusively for the event. - Hennessy will introduce new Very Special Cocktails at the festival. - New York DJs will premiere unreleased music. - New York Penn will release a limited customizable jacket at the event.

The details: - Potluck Club and Ace’s Pizza are teaming up on a Chinese Sausage & Peppers Detroit-Style Pizza. - Titi’s Empanadas and Nancy Nguyen of After Eden are creating a Banh Mi Empanada. - Loser’s Eating House and OREO Cookies are debuting The Big OREO Roll, a cookies-and-cream version of the bakery’s cinnamon roll. - The Big OREO Roll uses sourdough brioche, butter made with OREO cookies, olive oil cream icing and OREO cookie chunks. - Every guest gets a First Taste passport at check-in. - Guests who collect stamps at all three food drops earn a limited-edition New York Penn tote customized onsite with patches inspired by the lineup and New York City. - Gelo Honrade of After Eden will debut two original Hennessy cocktails at the main bar. - Guests age 21 and older will get one of three Hennessy Very Special Cocktails on arrival: Henny Rita, Henny Berry or Henny Iced Tea. - The featured beverage drop for First Taste 001 is a collection of ready-to-serve bottled cocktails made with Hennessy Very Special cognac. - The DJ lineup includes Sunny Cheeba back-to-back with Curly Nez, new drops from Just Dimy and Rae Sada, and Dos Flakos premiering tracks before an October release. - New York Penn designer Justin Blanco will debut a customizable jacket available only at First Taste. - The jacket comes in three colorways and can be personalized onsite. - Tickets cost $15 before the event and $20 at the door. - Food drops are sold separately onsite. - Reserved tables for groups cost $500 and are available on 8it. - The event runs from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. rain or shine. - 8it is inviting press to attend, with credential requests and interviews directed to mac@8it.world. - Social accounts for the event are @firsttastefest on Instagram and TikTok.

Between the lines: - 8it is using First Taste to move beyond curation and into direct consumer experiences, where scarcity and exclusivity drive attendance. - The format also gives brands like OREO and Hennessy a stage for product debuts that feel more like cultural moments than standard promotions. - The passport-and-tote mechanic adds a gamified incentive that can push guests to sample every drop, not just one.

What's next: - First Taste 001 will serve as the first test of the format, with future editions likely depending on turnout, sales and brand interest. - Guests can expect more limited drops on site as 8it continues positioning itself as a gatekeeper for what is new in New York food and culture. - Tickets and group tables are available through 8it.